Player safety remains the "overriding" concern for the proposed England tour to India, starting in mid-November, according to the team's bosses.

England's cricketers received assurances at an emergency meeting with officials at Lord's but the players have given themselves until midday on Friday to state whether they will be participating in the six-week, three-Test tour or the Indian leg of the one-day programme in the NewYear.

The authorities have promised that nothing will be held against any player decides not to travel in the current world climate, with military action in nearby Afghanistan.

"We will not be forcing anyone to get on that plane," said Tim Lamb, chief executive of the England and Wales Cricket Board.

"I would like to emphasise that the safety and security of our players is uppermost in our minds and is the overriding criteria."

If England didn't tour they would not be penalised by the International Cricket Council because such sanctions have only been agreed in principle and are not yet contractually binding.

Hussain, fast bowler Andy Caddick, and all-rounder Craig White have all expressed worries about touring India but they and their colleagues heard expert advice at Lord's, as the ECB attempted to reassure its players.

New Delhi High Commissioner Sir Rob Young addressed the squad for 20 minutes before they went into their own discussions with team representative and Professional Cricketers Association Managing Director Richard Bevan.

Initially the Foreign Office had stated that Britons should keep a low profile while visiting India but Lamb claimed that statement had caused some consternation.

"An England cricket team travelling to India is definitely high profile as a result of the phenomenal amount of interest in cricket in that country," admitted Lamb.

"However, as was clear from the document issued to the ECB by the Foreign Office, the advice about keeping a low profile is generic advice and applies throughout the world following the events of September 11.

"Sir Rob and the ECB point out that the England cricket team touring India can expect to have a much higher level of security surrounding them, courtesy of the Indian government, who will be responsible for providing that security and bearing the cost of it.

"It was our hope that Sir Rob will be able to allay any anxieties that the players and management might have and give them the assurance that they quite understandably were looking for."

The next move is for the players to inform Bevan by noon on Friday whether they will be available for the trip, which climaxes with the three Tests back-to-back between December 3-23.

"It's the first time the guys have been together to discuss issues and there was only one real issue on the table and that was safety," said Bevan.

"They had some serious considerations on the safety issue - a number of them were allayed by the High Commissioner.

"They'll go back, they will have a safety discussion with their families, and come back and say 'yes we are happy to tour' or 'no we are not'.

"You may will end up with two or three guys not wanting to tour. On Friday we will have a much better position of where to go. My role as a player's representative is to try and get them the best advice possible."

England are almost certain to employ a security officer to accompany them on the tour, brought in from an Indian firm, while the two teams will travel together on aircraft and stay in the same hotels.

Meanwhile, strike bowler Darren Gough has been told he will not be included in the following Test series in New Zealand, no matter how well he performs in the limited over tournament which precedes it, because he agreed only to a one-day contract.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Hoggard said: "I'm a cricketer who wants to play for my country and this tour is obviously a great chance for me.

"Obviously there isn't a major problem in India, but what is happening is very close to where we are going."

Hoggard is well aware that with Gough's absence and the fact that Andy Caddick looks increasingly unlikely to tour that he has every chance of being England's new ball bowler throughout the Indian tour.

The Yorkshire paceman, however, conceded there were still problems facing England's touring party throughout the winter.

He added: "One of the big worries is that we would be an easy target for people in India. There's also the point that if something should happen, how can we be sure we could get home safely?

"The worst thing about it all is that we're professional sportsmen and we shouldn't have to be worrying about things like this."

Catch the First Test between India and England live on Sky Sports 2 from December 3

Three England players who were doubtful for the tour to India have been passed fit after extensive examinations at Edgbaston.

Left-arm spinner Ashley Giles, fast bowler Jimmy Ormond (knee) and all-rounder Craig White (back) all came through their tests under the supervision of England physiotherapist Dean Conway.

They'll now meet up with the rest of the squad, who are due to fly to Bombay on November 13.

Giles, who has been recovering from an Achilles tendon operation with a rehabilitation programme at Lilleshall's Human Performance Centre, may not be fit enough to play in the opening warm-up matches.

"I still haven't finished my rehab totally yet," Giles, 28, told Sky Sports News. "I've got a bit to go so I don't want to push myself too far and set myself back.

"I've been set back by an infection I picked up quite a long time after the operation and I think that if I had avoided that I would be up and running by now."

Giles took 17 wickets in England's successful tour of Pakistan last winter and seven more in Sri Lanka.

England stepped off their plane to India and straight into a tight security net on Wednesday.

The 16-man squad touched down at Mumbai International Airport and were immediately cloaked by local police before being ferried to their hotel.

The measures, put in place in case of unrest at the continued of bombing in Afghanistan, are beefed up by the ECB's appointment of personal minders Matthew Kilbride and Douglas Dick.

Nasser Hussain's squad are expected to have bodyguards in tow at all times.

"Discreet security will be around the tour party the whole time," said ECB cricket operations manager John Carr.

"If the players want to go out of the hotel they will have to inform the security staff where they want to go."

England's Test stars headed straight for the pool for an early work-out, and the only thing to break the serenity of their location was the constant noise of firecrackers let off to celebrate the start of the hindu festival Divali

Mumbai President's X1 373-5dec v England 370-3
Tour match, Bombay - Match Drawn

Skipper Nasser Hussain was one of four players to reach fifty as England amassed 370-3 in their first tour match against Mumbai President's X1 in India.

Only Michael Vaughan, who made just two, missed out for the tourists as the two-day game, an opportunity for England to start their tour on a confident note, ended with England just three behind the hosts' first-day total.

Hussain struck some lusty blows, including a six to bring up his half-century, and capitalised on some poor Mumbai catching to compile 70 before retiring to allow his team-mates a chance to acclimatise to sub-continent conditions.

When Hussain and Graham Thorpe - just five runs short of his own fifty - gave way at tea, their replacements Craig White and Mark Ramprakash took full advantage, adding 138 in the final session.

White's swashbuckling 79 from 72 balls featured seven fours and five sixes, while his partner was more restrained, taking 96 deliveries to score his 58.

Early in the day, Marcus Trescothick struck a fluent half-century before being dismissed for 60 as England reached 117-2 at lunch.

The Somerset opener began in circumspect fashion in tandem with fellow left-hander Mark Butcher, but was soon showing his aggressive style, hooking Avishka Salvi for six before following up with two ferocious square cuts to the boundary.

Mumbai captain Paras Mambrey turned to his spinners as early as the 15th over, but Trescothick was unfazed, bringing up the first fifty of England's tour with a six off left-armer Nilesh Kulkarni.

Off-spinner Ramesh Powar eventually did for Trescothick, whose 60 came off just 67 balls, goading him into a top-edged sweep which first-day centurion Vinod Kambli clutched at midwicket.

Vaughan came to the crease for his first knock but added just two runs before he was caught behind off Kulkarni, while Butcher was run out for 33 attempting to take advantage of a wild overthrow just after lunch.

Board President's XI v England 297-9
Hyderabad, Tour match, day one close

Scorecard

Keep up to date with all the latest news from England's tour to India with daily updates on skysports.com and Sky Sports News.

Mark Ramprakash hit a century as England recovered from a shaky afternoon session to reach 297-9 on the opening day of their second tour match in India.

Captain Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher got England off to a good start with solid knocks before England lost five wickets for just 83 runs to leave them 187-6.

But Ramprakash combined with Gloucestershire off-spinner Martyn Ball to share in a seventh-wicket stand of 52 and help England recover. 

With coach Duncan Fletcher revealing England are likely to go in to the first Test with just five batsmen - and Hussain, vice-captain Marcus Trescothick and the experienced Graham Thorpe all certainties - it is thought that Ramprakash is fighting for his place in the side.

And his 105 from 182 balls will have done his chances of making the starting XI for the first Test in Mohali on December 3 no harm at all.

But Ramprakash did survive a couple of scares on a day when the hosts spilled half a dozen catches. He should have been given run out in the mid-20s when Tinu Yohanan's direct hit from fine leg beat his lunge for the line by a foot.

However, he was offered the benefit of the doubt by umpire K Parthasardhi, and then dropped by Murali Kartik at gully off seamer Sanjay Bangar, five runs short of his 50.

He was eventually bowled by Kartik in the penultimate over of the day, offering a tired-looking sweep.

For the hosts, off-spinner Sarandeep Singh impressed, finishing the first day of the three-day match with figures of 5-98.

It was a big challenge for all of us," said Ramprakash after his 105. "Out here you have to work hard and we were confronted by two top-quality spinners.

"Personally I just feel that when I get an opportunity I have to take it."

Ramprakash, who had preached the virtue of patience in dealing with the Indian spinners before this three-day match, did have some fortune, surviving a run out when inches short and dropped at gully.

"It is a learning process for all of us," he added. "It was a slow turning wicket and at times it was hard to get away.

"They bowled very well and it was just a case of waiting and hitting the bad ball hard.

"It was a good team performance to come back from 149 for five and the late order stuck around well."

England: M A Butcher, M P Vaughan, N Hussain (Capt), G P Thorpe M R Ramprakash, C White, J S Foster (Wkt), M C J Ball, R K J Dawson J Ormond, M J Hoggard.

Keep up to date with all the latest news from England's tour to India with daily updates on skysports.com and Sky Sports News.

Mark Ramprakash has admitted that every member of the England squad is under pressure to perform on the current tour of India.

Coach Duncan Fletcher has publicly revealed he will sacrifice a batsmen for the Test matches to ensure that the tourists have the bowling capabilities to trouble the powerful Indian batting line-up.

Surrey batsman Ramprakash made a sound start to the six-week tour with an unbeaten half-century in Mumbai, where he looked in fine touch and dealt with the Indian spinners comfortably.

Nasser Hussain and Marcus Trescothick, captain and vice-captain respectively, and the experienced Graham Thorpe look certainties for three of the five remaining batting positions, leaving Ramprakash, Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher fighting for the last two slots.

But both Ramprakash and Vaughan scored centuries in their last Test appearances - Ramprakash's a majestic 133 against Australia at The Oval - and Butcher struck a sensational 173 not out to seal a Headingley victory in August.

Ramprakash took advantage of injuries last summer to feature in the Ashes, which culminated in his second Test century.

"That was a major thing for me. To get through and score a big hundred against the quality of opposition was a big thing for my career.

"I was happy with the way I approached my batting during the summer. Of course, these are different conditions but it will be the same attitude, to try to mix aggression with patience," Ramprakash added.

"There is a lot of competition for places in the squad. We have seven good batsmen out here and also with Craig White playing so well it's very heartening for the England management.

"The way I viewed it last summer was that I would go in and give it my best shot and I will remain with that attitude no matter what the competition is.

"Competition is good, it's healthy for the team and there are some talented players playing well at the moment.

"I don't feel established in the side; you feel that you want to perform but the nature of the game is sometimes you miss out and you can't worry too much.

"If I get the opportunity I want to take the attitude I had in the summer into the game, to play confidently, hit the bad ball and play a big innings."

England have just two more warm-up games to assess the situation before the first Test, with the match against a Board President's XI starting on Thursday morning the first chance for players to press their claims.

Graham Dilley, England's assistant coach, who was laid low by the effects of the sun in Mumbai, flew to Hyderabad on Wednesday with scorer Malcolm Ashton.

The President's XI includes six players who have represented India, including Wasim Jaffer who made 99 in Mumbai in the opening match, while Rohan Gavaskar, son of the legendary Sunil, is also in the side.

Board President's XI 163-2 v England 320
Hyderabad, Tour match, day two tea

Keep up to date with all the latest news from England's tour to India with daily updates on skysports.com and Sky Sports News.

Scorecard

Matthew Hoggard removed dangerman Wasim Jaffer first ball but the Board President's XI made good progress as they chased England's 320 on the second day of their tour match in Hyderabad on Friday.

Off-spinner Martyn Ball took the other wicket for the tourists, but Dinesh Mongia and JJ Martin shared an unbeaten third wicket stand of 97 to put the home side in command at tea.

It was the Gloucestershire spinner's first wicket in England colours as he shared 27 overs with fellow spinner Matthew Dawson.

Hoggard had earlier helped Richard Dawson add 28 for the final wicket after England resumed on 297 for nine.

Dawson, who hooked a steepling six in the third over of the morning, fell for 24, slashing at seamer Sanjay Bangar and taken at first slip by Dinesh Mongia.

Board President's XI v England 297-9
Hyderabad, Tour match, day one close

Scorecard

Keep up to date with all the latest news from England's tour to India with daily updates on skysports.com and Sky Sports News.

Mark Ramprakash hit a century as England recovered from a shaky afternoon session to reach 297-9 on the opening day of their second tour match in India.

Captain Nasser Hussain and Mark Butcher got England off to a good start with solid knocks before England lost five wickets for just 83 runs to leave them 187-6.

But Ramprakash combined with Gloucestershire off-spinner Martyn Ball to share in a seventh-wicket stand of 52 and help England recover. 

With coach Duncan Fletcher revealing England are likely to go in to the first Test with just five batsmen - and Hussain, vice-captain Marcus Trescothick and the experienced Graham Thorpe all certainties - it is thought that Ramprakash is fighting for his place in the side.

And his 105 from 182 balls will have done his chances of making the starting XI for the first Test in Mohali on December 3 no harm at all.

But Ramprakash did survive a couple of scares on a day when the hosts spilled half a dozen catches. He should have been given run out in the mid-20s when Tinu Yohanan's direct hit from fine leg beat his lunge for the line by a foot.

However, he was offered the benefit of the doubt by umpire K Parthasardhi, and then dropped by Murali Kartik at gully off seamer Sanjay Bangar, five runs short of his 50.

He was eventually bowled by Kartik in the penultimate over of the day, offering a tired-looking sweep.

For the hosts, off-spinner Sarandeep Singh impressed, finishing the first day of the three-day match with figures of 5-98.

It was a big challenge for all of us," said Ramprakash after his 105. "Out here you have to work hard and we were confronted by two top-quality spinners.

"Personally I just feel that when I get an opportunity I have to take it."

Ramprakash, who had preached the virtue of patience in dealing with the Indian spinners before this three-day match, did have some fortune, surviving a run out when inches short and dropped at gully.

"It is a learning process for all of us," he added. "It was a slow turning wicket and at times it was hard to get away.

"They bowled very well and it was just a case of waiting and hitting the bad ball hard.

"It was a good team performance to come back from 149 for five and the late order stuck around well."

Board President's XI: W Jaffer, S Sriram, D Mongia, JJ Martin (Capt), P Dharmani (Wkt),  SB Bangar, M Kartik, RS Gavaskar, T Yohannan, Sarandeep Singh,  Surendra Singh

England: M A Butcher, M P Vaughan, N Hussain (Capt), G P Thorpe M R Ramprakash, C White, J S Foster (Wkt), M C J Ball, R K J Dawson J Ormond, M J Hoggard.

Board President's XI 339-7 dec drew with England 320 and 163-9
Hyderabad, Tour match, day three

Scorecard

Keep up to date with all the latest news from England's tour to India with daily updates on skysports.com and Sky Sports News.

England's second tour match in India finished an inevitable draw on Saturday, but not before the tourists' batsmen were given a working-over by medium-paced seamer.

Sanjay Bangar took three wickets in seven balls in the evening session to initiate a middle-order collapse in England's second innings that even left them flirting with the possibility of defending a small target in a run chase.

But, after losing their seventh wicket with five overs plus the obligatory 15 in the last hour remaining and a lead of just 125, Martyn Ball dug in for the tourists.

The off-spinner, who earlier finished with figures of three for 89, complemented his first-innings 24 with a disciplined 25 not out in an impressive England debut..

Mark Ramprakash, a centurion in the first innings, again looked in good touch with 32 while Nasser Hussain made 38.

Ramprakash highlighted his positive attitude in taking 11 from Sarandeep Singh's first over and the last before tea, including a swept six.

Others, however, failed to take advantage on a featherbed surface quickly losing its limited pace and bounce.

Michael Vaughan was late on a full Tinu Yohanan delivery that nipped back through the gate to cartwheel middle and off-stumps; his 18 following a first-innings 22 but perhaps more significantly denying him any time against the spinners.

A push away from his body accounted for Mark Butcher, touching a seaming delivery from left-armer Surender Singh behind, while Graham Thorpe chopped on from outside off-stump to one that kept low in all-rounder Sanjay Bangar's first over.

Hussain succumbed to a loose drive to gully to begin a run of three wickets for four runs in seven balls by all-rounder Bangar.

Craig White nicked to wicketkeeper Pankaj Dharmani and in his next over a full-length inswinger beat James Foster's late jab to clip the off-stump.

Ball then joined Ramprakash, who fell leg-glancing left-arm spinner Murali Kartik for Dharmani to claim a juggling catch with an hour and five minutes left.

Potential embarrassment was averted, though, with Ball ensuring home captain Jacob Martin settled for a draw before the scheduled close

India have until Friday to inform the International Cricket Council whether they intend to play Virender Sehwag in the first Test against England.

The ICC has given the ultimatum to the Board of Control for Cricket in India in a letter after fears were raised that a late decision could jeopardise the safety of England players.

India are expected to name Sehwag in a 14-man Test squad on Wednesday, but the ICC is clear it wants the situation resolved before the First Test gets underway.

The ICC fears that the late inclusion of Sehwag in the starting XI could cause problems among a 30,000-strong crowd if, as expected, Nasser Hussain's men then pull out of what will become an unofficial test.

India may opt to pick Sehwag him in the initial squad but subsequently omit him from the side now that Sadagoppan Ramesh is fit again.

ICC chief executive officer Malcolm Speed will hold a media briefing at Lord's later today.
 
"Mr Speed has today written to Mr Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the BCCI, confirming in great detail why the match at Centurion Park between South Africa and India has been stripped of its Test status," the ICC said in a statement.

"He has also suggested that the BCCI's concerns be raised for discussion at the next meeting of the ICC executive board.

"Further, he has asked Mr Dalmiya to confirm by midday on Friday, November 30 (Kolkata time) the BCCI's final decision in respect of Virender Sehwag."

Indian cricket chief Jagmohan Dalmiya has refused to accept a Friday deadline from the ICC for a decision on whether banned batsman Virender Sehwag will be picked for the first Test against England.

International Cricket Council chief executive Malcolm Speed has given the Indian cricket board until 6.30am (GMT) on Friday to decide whether or not Sehwag will take the field in Mohali on Monday - with the remainder of England's tour hinging on the outcome.

But Dalmiya told a news conference on Wednesday: "The chief executive officer is asking for details of the team. I can't tell him that.

"I do not know where this deadline has come from. Who can dictate a deadline to anyone? The team will only be named on the morning of the match." 

Dalmiya's comments are certain to worry the England management, who have insisted England will not play India if they select Sehwag.

Sehwag was given a one-match ban after being disciplined by match referee Mike Denness for excessive appealing in India's second Test against South Africa at Port Elizabeth.

The ICC maintain Sehwag has not served his ban as they have ruled India's third Test against South Africa to be unofficial, as both teams refused to accept Denness as referee.

However, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, who dispute the original suspension, claim the match in Johannesburg is a legitimate Test and that Sehwag has therefore served his ban, leaving him free to face England.

But England and Wales Cricket Board chairman MacLaurin insists the tourists will not allow India - who named Sehwag in their 14-man squad on Wednesday - to defy the ICC.

"We will not play a friendly Test match," MacLaurin told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We are there to play real cricket and we support the ICC in that this gentleman has been suspended for one Test match so the gentleman concerned has a one-match ban to sit out.

"We will not be playing against a team with a banned cricketer in it.

"I sincerely hope that doesn't come to pass. To have had one Test match withdrawn from Test-match status in South Africa is very sad and if it goes on it will be very sad for the game of cricket.

"I'm not unduly surprised. The situation is between the ICC and the Board of Control for Cricket in India. The ECB's view is that it's a matter between the ICC and the Indian board and we are awaiting developments.

"We will be discussing the matter with our management board and we will decide what to do - the ICC want an answer from India by Friday morning.

"We are now taking it a day at a time. I sincerely hope good sense prevails for the good of everybody.

"We support the ICC. They are the governing body of world cricket and I would like to think all our other colleagues around the world would also support them."

India A v England - day 3 report

England coach Duncan Fletcher was satisfied with his team's growing consistency as they beat India A by three wickets, but was highly critical of the state of the Indian pitches.

Craig White and Andrew Flintoff starred with the ball as the hosts collapsed to 109 all out, and Flintoff was again prominent as his hard-hitting 40 and skipper Nasser Hussain's 59 laid the platform for England's winning total of 173-7.

But despite his delight at a victory which seemed unlikely when India A led by 138 with seven second-innings in hand, Fletcher revealed his concern that the unpredictable batting surfaces have hardly helped England's preparation for the forthcoming Test series. 

"I think we played ourselves back into it and even this morning, it was pretty tricky," said Fletcher.

"Today, I thought we played well for longer periods and not just in patches and it was not an easy wicket to play cricket on. Nasser Hussain and Andrew Flintoff both never really felt in on it.

"I believe that the wickets we have played on so far are not ideal preparation for the test match. This was another wicket that proved difficult for the batsmen and did not have even bounce."

England 170 & 173-7 bt India A 233-9dec & 109
Tour match, Jaipur, Day 3

England's all-rounders showed encouraging form ahead of the Test series with India, as Craig White and Andrew Flintoff starred in the tourists' three-wicket win over India A.

With the hosts 138 ahead at the end of day two with seven second-innings wickets in hand, a win for Nasser Hussain's side had looked a long shot, but White recorded figures of 5-31 and Flintoff chipped in with 3-27 as India A collapsed to 109 all out.

Chasing 173 for victory, Hussain's resilient 59 and Flintoff's quickfire 40 proved enough of a platform for an England victory, despite the loss of four wickets in rapid sucession as they closed on their target.

After reaching tea on 146-3, Hussain, Flintoff, White and James Foster all departed as England stuttered over the finishing line for an unlikely win.

It could all have been different, though, for England and their captain, who benefited from a controversial decision at the start of his innings.

Hussain hooked Dodda Ganesh to fine leg where Iqbal Siddiqui appeared to take a clean catch before throwing the ball away as he fell backwards over the boundary. Despite TV evidence to the contrary, Hussain was given not out and awarded one run. 

England's run chase had started unpromisingly when Mark Butcher found himself on the way back to the pavilion for four after gloving a Ganesh delivery to Gautam Gambhir at short-leg.

Marcus Trescothick and Mark Ramprakash both looked comfortable at the crease, but couldn't hang around long enough to post big scores: Trescothick edged Siddiqui to the keeper for 30, while the Surrey man was clean bowled by one from Sunil Joshi which kept low.

Earlier India A had capitulated from a promising starting position of 75-3 to a miserable 109 all out, thanks largely to the bowling of White.

The Yorkshire all-rounder, who took all three Indian wickets on day two, struck twice in two balls to dismiss Rashmi Ranjan Parida (13) and Ajay Ratra after Flintoff had removed Yere Goud (13).

The big Lancastrian bowled with good pace and collected two more scalps, while Richard Johnson polished the innings off with a wicket of his own.

India v England 107-1
First Test, Mohali, lunch day one

Latest score

Alex Sharratt reports

England negotiated the first session of their Test series against India with just one casualty as they went in to lunch on the opening day in Mohali on 107-1.

Captain Nasser Hussain (44no) and Marcus Trescothick (55no) shared an unbeaten second wicket stand of 103 to help England recover from the early loss of Mark Butcher.

The tourists got off to the worst possible start when Butcher fell to just the fourth ball of the morning after England had been asked to bat by Indian captain Sourav Ganguly.

Butcher pushed the second ball from debutant bowler Tinu Yohannan through cover for an all-run four, but edged the seamer's fourth ball to VVS Laxman at second slip to leave England reeling.

But Hussain and Trescothick maintained a healthy run-rate by taking advantage of some over-pitched bowling from the home side - with leg-spinner Anil Kumble taking particular punishment.

Hussain had earlier lost his tenth successive toss meaning the tourists would have to bat first on a wicket notoriously helpful to the seamers on the opening morning.

England awarded Test debuts to wicketkeeper James Foster and Yorkshire off-spinner Richard Dawson, and play two all-rounders in Andrew Flintoff and Craig White.

Teams:
India: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sanjay Bangar, Shiv Sundar Das, Deep Dasgupta, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Vangipurappu Laxman, Iqbal Siddiqui, Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Tinu Yohannan; 12th man: Connor Williams. 

England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Butcher, Richard Dawson, Andrew Flintoff, James Foster, Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe, Marcus Trescothick, Craig White; 12th man: Michael Vaughan. 

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India); Third umpire: K. Murali (India) 
Match referee: Denis Lindsay (South Africa).

India to defy ICC deadline
Poll: Should Sehwag be allowed to play against England?

Virender Sehwag - the man central if not directly responsible for the crisis that threatens to wreck England's winter tour of India - says he wants to play in the first Test.

The International Cricket Council insists the Indian batsman has yet to serve his one-match suspension and must not participate in next Monday's match in Mohali.

But the Indian board refuses to adhere to the ruling, claiming the unofficial Test from which he was omitted in South Africa last week was legitimate, and have named Sehwag in a party of 14 for England's first Test of the winter in defiance.

Sehwag, a century maker against South Africa on his Test debut, said: "To sit out a Test match can be extremely depressing.

"For five days you see your team-mates slog it out for six hours at a stretch daily and I just sit with a glum face in the dressing room.

"I can't comment on the ban but whether I have liked it or not, I have taken it in my stride. I hope the miseries for me are over. I just want to play the first Test against England in Mohali.

"I don't want to be in the news for the wrong reasons any more. Why should a ban destroy my happiness? Yes, it's depressing to miss a Test match but I am looking ahead in life and that's why I want to play the England series.

"It's a new series for me and playing at home will give me a real big boost."

Board of Control for Cricket in India president Jagmohan Dalmiya, the one man able to de-select Sehwag has until 6.30am GMT tomorrow (Friday) to do so.

But Dalmiya has said he will not announce India's intentions on whether they intend to play Sehwag until the morning of the match, which would be too late to save the Test - and the series.

Banned all-rounder Virender Sehwag has been included in India's 14-man squad for the first Test against England.

The selection further escalates the row between India and the International Cricket Council, who have insisted that the country inform them by 6.30am (GMT) on Friday whether Sehwag will play in the match.

England are expected to walk out of Monday's match if Sehwag is named in the final XI since the ICC have confirmed they will strip the game of its Test status.

Sehwag was banned for one match by referee Mike Denness for dissent in the second Test in South Africa. India refused to accept Denness as the match referee for the third Test which was then stripped of its official status by the ICC. 

Sehwag did not play in the match and the Indian authorities said they considered he had now served his ban and would be available to play against England. The ICC disagreed, saying his ban still stood as the match was now unofficial. 

The BCCI's chairman of selectors, Chandu Borde, stressed that the players for next Monday's game were selected on merit alone and insisted he had received no directive from president Jagmohan Dalmiya.

"Whether he (Sehwag) is allowed to play or not is not my concern," said Borde. "My job is to select the players. That alone is my job.

"It's up to the Board to decide."

Asked if, in the interests of the sport, he had considered excluding Sehwag, Borde added; "Not really, because he got a hundred on his (Test) debut.

"On his performances we have selected him and you cannot drop a person that has made a hundred on their debut."

Squad: Sourav Ganguly (capt), Rahul Dravid, Shiv Sundar Das, Connor Williams, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Virender Sehwag, Deep Dasgupta, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Sarandeep Singh, Sanjay Bangar, Iqbal Siddiqui, Tinu Yohannan.

The rift between Indian authorities and the International Cricket Council is no closer to being resolved.

Jagmohan Dalmiya, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, is insistent that Virender Sehwag is serving his one-match ban during the current unofficial Test at Centurion Park.

But the ICC is adamant Sehwag should serve his time in an official Test, namely England's tour opener against India in Mohali next week.

"The ICC has confirmed the one-match ban on Virender Sehwag imposed by (match referee) Mike Denness," ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed said.

"This means he is ineligible for selection for the first Test against England.

"We have notified this fact to Denis Lindsay, the properly appointed ICC match referee for the series."

India 79-2 v England 238
First Test, Mohali, day two lunch

Latest score

England appear set for a long haul in the field in Mohali after a tough first session of the second day.

Needing early wickets to claw themselves back into the contest, England registered just one before lunch.

With India resuming on 24 for one - 214 runs in arrears - Nasser Hussain's bowlers found some assistance through the air and off the PCA Stadium strip.

The overhead conditions, however, were not as helpful as yesterday's cloudy start with the sunshine breaking through as the players entered the field.

Worryingly for Hussain, the seamers employed this morning could not oust nightwatchman Anil Kumble.

It was Richard Dawson, the Yorkshire off-spinner, who eventually did so in his second over in Test cricket, a wicket maiden.

Kumble attempted to cut but edged to Dawson's fellow debutant James Foster. That ended a second-wicket partnership of 53, dominated by Kumble's 37.

In fact, Deep Dasgupta's defensive approach was highlighted by the 41 balls it took him to progress from 21 to 22.

But he was still there on 34 at the interval with Rahul Dravid yet to score in a total of 79 for two.

Both Matthew Hoggard and James Ormond beat the bat in the opening overs.

Each also went close to claiming a breakthrough; Anil Kumble edging through gully off Hoggard, Dasgupta surviving a confident appeal for leg before in the same over, the fourth of the morning, and Ormond also asking the question against Kumble.

Then, an Ormond delivery appeared to brush Kumble's gloves, wicketkeeper James Foster spilled the ball but umpire Srinivas Venkatraghvan subsequently signalled leg-bye.

But the defiance of Kumble and Dasgupta does not bode well for the rest of the day, when batting conditions improve, with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, captain Saurav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman still to come.

England 238 India 24-1 - Report | Scorecard
Close of Play, Day One
First Test, Mohali

England's quarter of quickies - Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Andy Flintoff and Craig White - will have to make a bright start on Tuesday morning if England are to fight their way back into the first Test.

Sky Sports pundit Alec Stewart said after close of play on the opening day that "England are just in the game - but only just."

But both he and Ian Botham, who is covering the Test match in Mohali, believe there is enough in the pitch for the quicker bowlers to give England a chance.

Stewart said: "It is going to be hard, what we need now is for Hoggard and Ormond to come out and use the new ball well.

"The pitch can be lively in the morning with the dew. If Flintoff, White, Ormond can put the ball in the right place, it could be a very good game."

Botham said the pitch was more helpful than India's seamers had made it appear.

"I think there is something in it for the quicker bowlers. You didn't see it on the first day because India's seamers were indifferent."

England were cruising at 120-1 before the spinners Kumble and Singh sparked an England collapse. The last six wickets fell for only 14 runs.

"We had a good first three hours, after that India took over and they will be happy with what has happened on the first day," said Stewart.

"Hussain and Trescothick were excellent, helped by the new ball bowling. But when you lose a wicket, you can lose a batch. In our case, it was more than batch.

"Harbhajan Singh was the destroyer with 5-51 but we have to believe we can knock the over for a similar total to our 228.

"Nasser played a captain's innings but when he played forward defence, the ball hit bat and then onto the pad. Laxman took the catch - Kumble has got a lot of wickets like that.

"You could say Flintoff was out to a typical Andy Flintoff-style shot. He went on the attack but a got an outside edge and gave Kumble a simple catch."

England made one breakthrough before close of play through Mark Butcher.

"It probably raised a few eyebrows to see Butcher on as first-change but it was a great decision from Nasser, Mark can swing the ball," said Stewart.

"It was a disappointing total. There will probably be a team meeting tomorrow morning. They will be saying 'what has happened has happened but let's learn from our mistakes and make sure it doesn't happen again."

That left Dasgupta and night-watchman Anil Kumble to steer the home side through to the close on 24-1.

Earlier, England captain Nasser Hussain, who had lost his 14 consecutive toss, and Marcus Trescothick shared a second-wicket stand of 125.

That helped the tourists recover from the early blow of losing Butcher from the fourth ball of the day.

Trescothick fell shortly after lunch for 66, but Hussain went on to score a well-crafted 85 before he was caught at bat-pad off the bowling of Anil Kumble.

Graham Thorpe also came and went in the middle session, scoring 23 before edging a catch to second slip off debutant seamer Iqbal Siddiqui.

Teams:
India: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sanjay Bangar, Shiv Sundar Das, Deep Dasgupta, Rahul Dravid, Anil Kumble, Vangipurappu Laxman, Iqbal Siddiqui, Harbhajan Singh, Sachin Tendulkar, Tinu Yohannan; 12th man: Connor Williams. 

England: Nasser Hussain (captain), Mark Butcher, Richard Dawson, Andrew Flintoff, James Foster, Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe, Marcus Trescothick, Craig White; 12th man: Michael Vaughan. 

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies), Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India); Third umpire: K. Murali (India) 
Match referee: Denis Lindsay (South Africa).

India 262-3 v England 238
First Test, Mohali, day two

Alex Sharratt reports

New cap Deep Dasgupta struck a painstaking century as India ground out a 24-run first innings lead in Mohali on the second day of the first Test.

They still have seven wickets in hand and, for England, the big worry is that Sachin Tendulkar is just getting into his cultured stride.

The little master lies on 31 not out overnight, having passed 1,000 runs against England in his career. Rahul Dravid will resume alongside Tendulkar tomorrow (Wednesday) on 78.

India began the day on 24-1 in reply to England's disappointing 238 all out and the home side only lost nightwatchman Anil Kumble and Dasgupta over the course of a punishing Tuesday for England.

Kumble fell to debutant off-spinner Richard Dawson midway through the morning session with the score on 76, but then the home side proceeded to offer the tourists little to get excited about for the rest of a long day in the field.

Dawson struck in just his second over, having Kumble caught behind by fellow Test newcomer James Foster after the batsman attempted a loose cut outside the off-stump when he had made a useful 37.

It had been a good innings from the leg-spinner and set the tone for a day when the bat was in total command of the ball on a pitch that offered little encouragement for England's bowlers after the first half-hour.




Captain Nasser Hussain could only watch in frustration as his inexperienced England bowlers toiled throughout the afternoon session with no reward as India crawled to 150-2 at tea.

He could at least take some consolation that his bowlers were disciplined enough to restrict the scoring rate to a dour 2.14 runs an over between lunch and tea.

Hussain even adopted the tactic of bowling to a packed off-side field in an attempt to frustrate the Indian batsmen into playing a rash shot, but Dravid and Dasgupta maintained total patience as they continued to slowly erode England's lead.

Andrew Flintoff, a late tour call-up, was the one England bowler to offer a threat to the Indian pair and was twice denied by dropped catches - the first was a tough chance for Foster down the leg side when Dravid was on 33, while Mark Butcher should have collected an edge from Dasgupta's bat when the centurion was on 75.

Dasgupta's effort was an example to England that runs are there to be scored if you have the patience. He reached his ton off 253 balls and hit 18 fours. Shortly afterwards Craig White managed to sneak a delivery through Dasgupta's watertight defence and he was bowled for exactly 100.

His departure brought the arrival of Tendulkar, who received a reception befitting the national hero he is. He has started cautiously but one clipped leg-side four off Flintoff was the shot of the day and was full of ominous intent.

If this was terrible Tuesday for England, tomorrow could be woeful Wednesday with Dravid and Tendulkar looking well set

Vice-captain Marcus Trescothick admitted that England were disappointed at the dismal slump which saw them capitulate to 238 all out from a promising position of 129-1 on day one of the first Test.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh took five wickets for six runs to finish with 5-51, as India ran through the tourists' lower order with ease before reaching the close on 24 for the loss of Shiv Sunder Das.

And Trescothick, whose 66 in a 125 stand with Nasser Hussain was a highlight of the England innings, said that urgent work was needed to address the problems posed by Singh.

"We have been watching videos of Harbhajan and he gets so much bounce that it is very difficult to play him," Trescothick said.

"But we will have to get used to playing him because he is a top-class bowler."

The Somerset opener was at a loss to explain the collapse, but insisted that the players would work hard to prevent a repeat later in the three-match series.

"We are disappointed with what we got in regards to what we were at lunch," said Trescothick. "It's something to improve on - to almost give it away was quite disappointing and we will have to work hard on it not to let it happen again.

"If we knew why it happened, we wouldn't have let it. We will have to address it pretty quickly, though, because we are right into the heart of the Test series."

India 389-6 v England 238
First Test, Mohali, day three

Oli Burley reports

Sachin Tendulkar caressed his way to within 12 runs of a 27th Test ton as India continued to ram home their first innings advantage over England.

The pocket genius shared a fifth-wicket stand of 80 with skipper Sourav Ganguly before becoming the tourists' second scalp of the day when he edged Matthew Hoggard through to James Foster.

Hoggard struck again eight runs later as Ganguly's attempted upper cut ended in the hands of Graham Thorpe at deep cover to leave India on 378-6 - a lead of 140.

England's bowlers managed just 24 overs in the morning session as India extended their overnight lead from 24 to 115.

Nasser Hussain's struggling side desperately needed an early wicket flurry to peg India back from their overnight 262-3.

But the tourists had to settle for just one success - James Ormond trapped Dravid (86) leg before wicket to end a 78-run fourth wicket stand.

Hoggard almost dismissed Tendulkar when the batsman attempted to leave a ball that jagged back, but the inside edge beat James Foster behind the stumps.

The boundary brought up Tendulkar's 29th Test fifty off 77 balls as runs continued to flow at a good pace.

Tendulkar brought up the 300 with an immaculate on-drive, then struck Hoggard to the other side of mid-on with a delightful flick of the wrists.

England tested Ganguly with the short ball and the Indian skipper seemed unsettled at first as he took his eyes off the ball.

But he ended the session on top, and had the last word in a couple of animated exchanges with Andrew Flintoff, by further cementing India's advantage before lunch.

INDIA v ENGLAND
Test Series, live on Sky Sports

1st Test - December 3-7

2nd Test - December 11-15

3rd Test - December 19-23

*********************************************
England batsman Michael Vaughan is used to being cast in the role of underdog - he is a Sheffield Wednesday season ticket holder. But the climate between Hillsborough and India, where England are attempting to succeed where the Aussies failed and win a Test series, couldn't be more different
**********************************************

Michael Vaughan has had a mixed past 12 months.

He missed out on most of last year's successful winter tour to Pakistan and Sri Lanka through injury, returned to score his maiden Test century against the Pakistanis at Old Trafford in the summer and then tore a cartilage and missed the Ashes series.

He did make it back for seven domestic matches, averaging an impressive 51.76, and rescued his season by helping Yorkshire win their first county championship for 33 years.

"Missing out on playing against the Aussies was a big blow, admits the quietly-spoken Vaughan. "Opportunities like that might not come again, though I hope they do. Getting back into the Yorkshre team and finishing off winning the championship was something special.

"Over the years a lot of people have said that we wouldn't quite make it because we bottle it towards the end.

To actually sustain the run right the way through, we didn't just win it - we won it easily."

In a county where local pride is at its most intense, Vaughan is thrilled the Yorkshire die-hards have something to cheer about.

With his knee now completely healed, Vaughan is in India where he has looked in good nick in the warm-up matches without converting his innings into big scores.

With a test average of just over 30, Vaughan knows onlookers will be watching the series to see if he can fulfil his undoubted potential.

Born in Manchester, he moved to Sheffield when he was 10 and quickly settled. Moving up through the ranks, the tall, rangy, upright and orthodox batsman seemed to fit the classic Yorkshire batting mould created down the years by legends such as Len Hutton and Geoff Boycott.

Afer successful England under-19 and A tours, including two as captain, this mental toughness was evident during his debut Test series against South Africa in 1999.

Injury problems has checked his progress somewhat which is why this tour could be a watershed.

"When you are out of the team, you have to score runs and take your chances. I would love to score another hundred. India is a great place to play and to score a century thre, you have to be playing pretty well."

Vaughan insists that a careful, concentrated strategy is England's best chance of success against India.

"The key is you have to stay in the game on the subcontinetnt," he says. "One session of Tendulkar smashing you all over the place and it could be all over. The longer we stay in the game, the more pressure they come under from the supporters. That is when we will come into our own. It may not be pretty to watch but we have to do it."

India 469 v England 238 and 127-3
First Test, Mohali, day four

Oli Burley reports

India claimed three vital wickets before lunch to keep alive their hopes of squashing England inside four days.

The tourists, 34-0 overnight, lost Mark Butcher, Marcus Trescothick and captain Nasser Hussain in the space of 21 runs as India tightened their grip on the game.

At lunch, England trail their hosts by 104 runs with seven second-innings wickets left. Graham Thorpe (26no) and Mark Ramprakash (14no) are at the crease.

A patient Butcher added just seven runs before top-edging an attempted pull off Tinu Yohannan to substitute fielder Jacob Martin at mid-wicket to depart for 18.

Somerset opener Trescothick (46) was in rather more belligerent form, particularly square of the wicket, but the pull-shot was also his undoing. Yohannan's second wicket was made by Iqbal Siddiqui's stunning catch at long leg.

Hussain (12) looked to dominate Anil Kumble, driving the spinner for two fours in an over, before he attempted to cut a ball that was too close to his body and chopped it on to his stumps.

India 469 v England 238 and 34-0
First Test, Mohali, day three
India lead by 

Oli Burley reports

Openers Mark Butcher and Marcus Trescothick made a resilient start to England's bid to save the first Test after India racked up a 231-run first innings lead.

The pair saw the tourists safely through 20 testing overs before stumps on a wearing pitch after Rahul Dravid (86), Sachin Tendulkar (88) and Sourav Ganguly (47) had propelled the hosts into a match-winning position.

The high point of another arduous day for Nasser Hussain's side was Richard Dawson's debut return of 4-134. Matthew Hoggard took 3-98.
 
India, 262-3 overnight, lost just one wicket in the morning session when James Ormond claimed his first tour scalp by trapping Dravid (86) in front to end a 78-run fourth wicket stand with Tendulkar.

India, unlike England on day one, refused to squander their position. Tendulkar reached his 29th Test fifty with a touch of fortune by deflecting his 77th ball past Foster via an inside edge, but otherwise his stroke-play was sumptuous.

The hosts surged past 300 as Tendulkar drove Hoggard down the ground with an immaculate on-drive, then struck Hoggard for two more fours in the over.

England tried to intimidate Ganguly with a succession of short balls, but the Indian skipper had the last word as he saw his side through to 353-4 at lunch after a couple of animated exchanges with Andrew Flintoff.

The break galvanised England's attack, but the fielding remained generous. Tendulkar fell 12 runs short of his 27th Test ton when he nicked Hoggard to James Foster to end a fifth-wicket stand of 80 with Ganguly (47).

The Yorkshire paceman struck again eight runs later as Ganguly's attempted upper cut ended in the hands of Graham Thorpe at deep cover to leave India on 378-6.

Ganguly had enjoyed a reprieve on 41 when Foster missed a simple stumping chance off off-spinner Richard Dawson. Thorpe later compounded the error by shelling a simple catch offered by Sanjay Bangar at cover.

Dawson deserved more and he got it after tea. VVS Laxman had comfortably moved to 28 before his poorly executed cut flew straight to Hussain just behind square.

The Yorkshire spinner claimed his third wicket of the innings with a deceptive quicker ball that beat Harbhajan Singh all ends up. Bangar skied a return catch to Dawson chasing quick runs before Hoggard wrapped up the innings by ending Iqbal Siddiqui's breezy 28-ball 24.

India 469 and 5-0 beat England 238 and 235 by ten wickets
First Test, Mohali



Captain Nasser Hussain admitted that England's liability to collapse spectacularly was the primary reason behind their comprehensive defeat in the first Test.

England lost their last seven wickets for 76 runs in their second innings, after slumping from 200-3 to 238 all out in the first innings.

"I think from 200 for three, to be bowled out for 230 or 240 was where we lost the game; that combined with a couple of dropped catches," Hussain conceded.

"We should have been level on first innings - but all credit to India, they bowled well and all their batsmen look in good nick.

"We can have no complaints, the better side won and played the better cricket on a very good pitch - one of the best I've ever played on."

Hussain was satisfied with his team's bowling ahead of next week's second Test at Kanpur. "Richard Dawson on debut bowled beautifully and I was generally very pleased with the way we went about our bowling in the first innings," Hussain said.

"But we've got some work to do with the batting - hopefully that will come in time. We need to use our heads more when we bat."

India captain Sourav Ganguly heaped praise on spinners Harbhajan Singh - dubbed `The Turbanator' - and Anil Kumble.

"They both bowled superbly and worked best when they bowled together. It's a good win on a fantastic wicket," he said. "Anil is a world class operator. He's won so many games for India in the past and I can see him winning more.

Former Leicestershire and Northamptonshire leg-spinner Kumble, who has now taken 289 Test wickets, was delighted to continue his impressive comeback from a shoulder injury.

"There are a lot of people I have to thank. It was tough to be sitting out for almost a year so it's great to be back," Kumble said.

India 469 and 5-0 beat England 238 and 235 by 10 wickets
First Test, Mohali, day four

Oli Burley reports

India romped to an ominous 10-wicket victory inside four days after England had been humbled by the spin of Anil Kumble.

The hosts had to score just five runs to take the lead in the three-match series after England lost five wickets for 38 runs to collapse to 235 all out. They reached their target in just two balls. Already, England have a mountain to climb.

Kumble (6-81) became only the second Indian, after Kapil Dev, to earn 17 five-wicket Test hauls as he tore through the tourists' line-up. The only serious resistance came from Graham Thorpe, whose 62 was his 29th Test 50.

England never recovered from squandering their healthy position of 200-3 on day one. Nasser Hussain's men began the fourth day on 34-0, still 197 runs behind.

Any hope of a fightback was over before lunch as Mark Butcher, Marcus Trescothick and captain Nasser Hussain all fell in the space of 21 runs.

A patient Butcher added just seven runs before top-edging an attempted pull off Tinu Yohannan to substitute fielder Jacob Martin at mid-wicket to depart for 18.

Somerset opener Trescothick (46) was in rather more belligerent form, particularly square of the wicket, but the pull-shot was also his undoing.

Yohannan's second wicket was made by Iqbal Siddiqui's stunning catch at long leg.

Hussain (12) looked to dominate Kumble, driving the spinner for two fours in an over, before he attempted to cut a ball that was too close to his body and chopped it on to his stumps.

Kumble trapped Mark Ramprakash (28) in front to break a crucial 72-run fourth wicket stand with Thorpe, then had birthday boy Andy Flintoff (four) caught second ball by Sourav Ganguly at silly mid-off.

The wickets left England 163-5 - still 72 runs away from making the hosts bat again. Craig White (22), in such fine form last winter on the sub-continent, used his feet well before getting a thin edge behind off Harbhajan Singh.

Thorpe - by far England's most accomplished batsman - brought up his 50 off 92 balls, but found no-one willing to support him.

The Surrey left-hander took England to the brink of avoiding an innings defeat before offering Kumble a simple return catch. Matthew Hoggard and Richard Dawson made sure India had to bat again.

If England were in any doubt about the extent of their defeat, India made them well aware by allowing opening bowler Siddiqui to hit the winning runs.

Stewart backs Foster | England lose first Test

Beleaguered England wicketkeeper James Foster admits the criticism of his first Test performance against India has hurt, but he has vowed to be a success at the highest level.

The Essex youngster, winning his first cap, missed a number of chances behind the stumps and was dismissed cheaply in both innings as England slumped to a 10-wicket defeat in Mohali.

But following public support from the man he has replaced, Sky Sports pundit Alec Stewart, Foster says he will prove his worth.

"It doesn't really feel too good," he told BBC Radio 5 Live. "I don't think anyone would feel too good and I'm disappointed but there's no point mourning over it and I'm doing something about it - practicing hard.

"It's hard work for me replacing Alec Stewart, one of the best wicketkeeper-batsmen in the world, is not going to be easy but I'm just enjoying myself and I'm learning so much from all the experiences.

"I'm looking forward to proving to myself that I can play and proving all the people having a go at me wrong. I'm only starting out in the game, I haven't got that much experience."

Watch the second Test between India and England on Sky Sports 2 from 0330 on December 11

Foster: `I'll show my doubters`

England claim that India are legally obliged to play four Test matches on their UK tour next year, despite an attempt to renegotiate the schedule.

Indian cricket head Jagmohan Dalmiya has said India will play the fourth Test at The Oval only if England agree to a sixth one-day international in India in January and a five-Test series when they return in 2005-6. 

A report on the ECB's official website said the board had correspondence signed by the Indian board's former honorary secretary saying the dates and venues of next year's tour were acceptable. 
   
"As far as we are concerned we have a binding commitment and most lawyers would tell you that if historical practice was that tours were confirmed by exchange of correspondence then that
letter in which they say it is okay is a binding commitment," said England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive Tim Lamb.

"The letter in our possession is effectively a contract," he added.

Meanwhile, England spinner Ashley Giles should be fit to play in the second Test against India in Ahmedabad, starting live on Sky Sports on Tuesday.

Giles is recovering from a foot injury, according to captain Nasser Hussain. 

"I expect him to be fit. He has done everything today," said Hussain.

England, who slumped to a 10-wicket defeat in last week's first Test in Mohali, are desperate for Giles to be fit because the match is expected to be played on a spin-friendly pitch. 

Left-armer Giles was ruled out of the first match of the series with a bruised heel suffered in a tour match, leaving debutant Richard Dawson to lead England's spin attack in Mohali.
 
An Achilles tendon injury restricted Giles to just one of this year's Ashes series, and although he was passed fit to take his place in the squad for the Indian tour, he did not play in the first two warm-up games. 

"We want to have Ashley back in the side," said Hussain. "We want to give him every chance. But we need to see if he can go through five days." 

Hussain's side face the prospect of a 3-0 whitewash as the Indian spinners are expected to dominate in Ahmedabad and Bangalore, the venue for the third test, on slow, turning tracks. 
Do you think they will lose 3-0?

Hussain admitted his batsmen were still in the process of getting used to the conditions in India. 

"The pitches here turn from day two and we are trying to train and re-train the batsmen," added Hussain.

"We have got 11 batters and we have won matches in the past with contributions from one down to eleven. Players have to plan to get around playing spinners." 

Hussain said the conditions in Ahmedabad could make life even more difficult for his inexperienced attack, hinting he would probably play an extra bowler. 

"In this part of the world, the temperature is four-five degrees higher," said Hussain. "So you need five bowlers."

Alex Sharratt reports

Captain Nasser Hussain has challenged his batsmen to "learn and learn quickly" as England bid to keep themselves in the series with victory in the second Test against India on Tuesday.

A poor display from the England batsmen saw the tourists crash to a 10-wicket defeat inside four days in the first Test last week, with spinners Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh taking 15 of England's 20 wickets.

With the second match being played on a dry, dusty track in Ahmedabad, Hussain's men look set for another thorough investigation of their skills against the turning ball.

And the England captain told Sky Sports on Monday that he spent the last few days drilling in to his batsmen the importance of sticking to their game plan.

"I have emphasised to them that we have to learn out here and we have to learn quickly," Hussain told Sky Sports reporter Tim Abraham after practice on Monday.

"The lads have been watching some video footage of people who have been successful out here and trying to work hard at their game. That is all they can do.

"Bowling is more of a team thing, a team discipline. But batting, I have been trying to emphasise that people have simply got to play they way they play.

"There is no point someone like myself going out and trying to bat like Graham Thorpe and vice versa. You should know your game by now and have your own game plan and what every happens, you have to take that in to the game."

Meanwhile, Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly has warned England that his side will be even stronger than the first Test.

Veteran seamer Javagal Srinath returns to the side after missing the first match with a hand injury sustained during India's recent Test series defeat in South Africa.

The home side have also recalled batsman Virender Sehwag, who was serving a ban during last week's crushing victory in Mohali.

"We have got a stronger side than what we had in the first Test in Mohali," Ganguly told Sky Sports.

"Srinath is a quality bowler. He has done superbly for India and is obviously our number one fast bowler so it is good to have him back.

"It is always good to win the first Test of a series. We lost the series in South Africa 1-0 so it was important that we start off this series with a win and I now hope we carry on.

"We know that victory here will give us the series but at the same time we have got to be very careful because we know England are going to come hard at us and we have got to be up for it. "

Marcus Trescothick admitted England were disappointed with their overall position after a promising start to the first day of the second Test was blighted by another batting collapse.

Trescothick became the first England player since Mike Atherton seven years ago to be dismissed for 99 during a demise of five wickets for 56, all to Anil Kumble.

Having faltered in each innings in the first Test defeat at Mohali, England did so again as 124 for none became 180 for five.

Craig White's disciplined approach in making an unbeaten 42 out of 277 for six at the close repaired some of the damage but it could have been so much better.

Trescothick, who shared a century opening stand with Mark Butcher (51), fell in the first over of the final session, attempting to force Kumble into the off-side for his century.

"We got off to a good start but how we ended up was pretty disappointing," Trescothick told Sky Sports' David Gower immediately after play.

"Being out on 99 is a strange feeling, I don't know how to feel, whether to be happy or sad.

"At the end of the day I am pretty pleased with what happened and I was just unlucky to be out on 99.

"I was obviously a little bit tense after the tea break but that happens every time so that was nothing new. I have accomplished it many times before so it is just one of those things.

"It was the right ball to hit but I nicked it to the gloves instead."

India v England - 277-6
Second Test, Ahmedabad
Day one - stumps

Oli Burley reports

Craig White's stubborn bat kept England's hopes of passing 300 alive after Anil Kumble's 18th fifth-wicket Test haul dismantled the top order.

The Yorkshire all-rounder reached stumps on 42 not out as England closed the day on 277-6 having at one stage been teetering on the brink of disaster at 180-5 after losing five wickets for 56 runs.

Nasser Hussain's men once more squandered a position of strength after Marcus Trescothick (99) and Mark Butcher (51) put on 124 for the first wicket.

The Somerset opener - Kumble's fourth victim - missed out on his third Test ton in the first over after tea. His knock included 11 fours and one six.

England, already one-down in the series, lost key batsman Graham Thorpe on the eve of the Test due to personal reasons.

The Surrey batsman was replaced by Michael Vaughan, while spinner Ashley Giles displaced seamer James Ormond. India recalled Virender Sehwag and Javagal Srinath.

Trescothick and Butcher put England's problems firmly behind them after captain Nasser Hussain had won the toss for the first time in 11 Tests.

But Butcher's sixth Test fifty was cut off in its prime when Kumble (5-80) found the edge of the Surrey opener's bat. While Hussain's lbw decision seemed harsh, Vaughan's shaky start inspired little confidence and it came as little surprise when he was eagerly snapped up by Sehwag at short leg.

The tea break stopped Trescothick in his tracks and he fell to Kumble's fourth ball after tea in possibly the spinner's most testing over of the day. Andy Flintoff (0) failed again, snicking the same bowler to VVS Laxman at silly mid-off.

From 180-5 Mark Ramprakash (37) and White partially halted the slide with a sixth-wicket stand of 59 before Sachin Tendulkar (1-23) pegged back the Surrey batsman's off stump.

Hopes weren't high for James Foster's (15no) long-term survival at the crease after his disappointing displays against the turning ball in the First Test, but the young wicketkeeper showed admirable restraint and kept his technique solid to give White invaluable support.

India v England
Second Test

England will have to make do without Graham Thorpe for the rest of the series in India.

The Surrey left-handed batsman flies back to England later today (Tuesday) to sort out private matters at home.

It was decided on the eve of the second Test that Thorpe, 32, should be released for the final fortnight of the six-week tour. He was replaced in the side for the second Test by Yorkshire's Michael Vaughan.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: "The England team management today announced that Graham Thorpe is to return to England and consequently will play no further part in the Test series with India.

"Pressing matters of a personal nature have arisen that required Graham's immediate attention. The team management request that Graham's privacy and that of his family be respected by all."

Thorpe, who struggled with back problems during the English summer, scored 23 and 62 in the first test which the visitors lost by 10 wickets in Mohali and was considered key to any revival by his side in the three-test series.

England legends turned Sky Sports commentators Ian Bothamn and David Gower give their view on the second day's play in Ahmedabad, as Nasser Hussain's men fight their way back into the series.

GOWER: "A pretty good day for England, runs in the morning, a hundred for Craig White and then two wrikcets in the last session."

BOTHAM: "It's been a great day for England. We thought the wheels had come off yestreday when they started to collapse like Mohali.

"But James Foster was magnificent and White, well he came close to a hundred against Pakistan in Lahore last year but this time he got to the century ton. It was well deserved, he was composed, he was timing the ball well and picked up his singles superbly."

"Then England picked up a couple of wickets, and it was a tough last hour with the likes of Tendulkar and Dravid in the middle, but the bowlers did well"

GOWER: "Yes, Ashley Giles White in particular was bowling a very good line. Aiming at that rough outside leg stump but not bowling too wide."

BOTHAM: "He kept on probing the leg stump, he is tall and he bowls from wicket-to-wicket. If the batsmen want to have a go at him, that's fine but if they get it wrong it could prove their downfall - Shiv Das Gupta's wicket was a great example today.

"It's great stuff and I hope he keeps probing in the rough all day tomorrow.

"The wicket has played very well, but it's dusting up a bit out of the rough. There's lots of time left and I always think that the third day is the most important in a Test match."

GOWER (smiling): "That's funny, I've always thought the second day was more important."

BOTHAM: "No, it's the third day for me, and this will be no exception.

"Tendulkar is not out overnight and he IS a magnificent player. However, there will be lots of pressure on him, as always in India.

"If England can get rid of him early doors things could start to go their way, although India have a very long batting order and there's still a lot to do."

India 291 v England 407 and 183-5
Second Test, Ahmedabad
Day four tea England lead by 299 runs

Alex Sharratt and Tim Hobbs reporting

Mark Butcher fell eight runs short of his century as India pegged England back on the fourth day of the Second Test.

The Surrey left-hander was just eight runs short of his first ton of the tour when he edged an attempted cut off Harjaban Singh to give the home side their third quick wicket before tea.

It left the tourists still 299 runs ahead with a four sessions left, although Duncan Fletcher and the dressing room will be slightly more downbeat having seen the Indians peg them back when the chance to put the second Test beyond all doubt was within their grasp.

Much of that had been down to Butcher's dogged 92, off 202 balls and compiled over 254 painstaking minutes, that was far from his fluent, stroke-making best, but had held his side together throughout their second innings.

Ironically, he had shut up shop with the tea break looming having seen Mark Ramprakash (19) and Andy Flintoff (4) both succumbing to the spin twins of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

And it could have been worse had umpire Robinson not missed a clear inside edge onto the pad from Craig White - who has yet to score after hitting his maiden Test ton in the first innings - as the Indians ended the session on a high.

They had clawed their way back into proceedings having seen England make slow but steady process in the morning session.

But skipper Hussain added just 10 more runs to his lunchtime score of 40, succumbing for a half-century as Virender Sewag pocketed a catch off Harbhajan. The England skipper had already edged Javahal Srinath twice but survived as both nicks fell short of the wicket-keeeper.

It bought Ramprakash to the wicket and he and Butcher steadied the ship before the former fell for 19 as England's hopes of giving themselves a full day to bowl out their hosts and secure victory, shortened by the ball.

Flintoff's batting has belied the term all-rounder all tour, and his wretched run with the willow continued as he attempted to cut one that went straight on, slashing the ball onto his stumps.

The choice of shot was questionable given the impending interval and just two balls before the end of the session, Butcher suffered a similar fate, edging a cut to PVS Laxman in the gulley as Harbhajan claimed his third wicket of the session.

India 291 v England 407 and 15-0
England lead by 131 runs
Second Test, Ahmedabad Day three

England bowling hero of the day Ashley Giles paid tribute to the sympathetic treatment he received from the England management during his recovery from injury.

Giles, considered a risk for the second Test after a lengthy achilles injury, returned his best Test figures (5-67) to put England in with a shout of levelling the series against India.

The Warwickshire spinner said he was glad to have repaid part of the faith invested in him by physio Dean Conway, coach Duncan Fletcher and skipper Nasser Hussain during his five-month lay-off from Test cricket.

"I owe a lot to Deano who has got me through this, as well as Fletch and Nass who stuck by me through thick and thin. Those three guys have been really great for me."

Giles agreed that England, 131-runs ahead after three days, are in a strong position to try and force a Test win.

"The wicket by no means is doing all sorts. I thought we stuck at our task really well today and yesterday and we've come out of this with a lot of credit.

"We've got to bat well tomorrow. India are going to come at us. We don't want to lose too many wickets early doors and then see where we are at around tea time.

"If we can get a win here then the third test will be fantastic. We were written off again before coming here but we've showed a lot of commitment in this game."

India 291 v England 407 and 15-0
Second Test, Ahmedabad
Day three, stumps

England lead by 131 runs

Oli Burley reports

England's gamble of risking Ashley Giles paid handsome dividends as the Warwickshire spinner took 5-67 to earn the tourists a healthy 116-run first innings lead despite Sachin Tendulkar's magnificent 27th Test century.

Giles, who passed a late fitness test prior to the match after five months out of Test cricket with an Achilles injury, snapped up four cheap wickets to wrap up India's innings which went off the boil once Tendulkar fell for 103.

VVS Laxman lofted Giles to Mark Butcher at long on to give the 28-year-old spinner his best ever Test figures and second five-wicket England haul. Laxman was last man out after hitting a steady, yet vital 75 off 192 balls.

England openers Mark Butcher and Marcus Trescothick negotiated a handful of overs before stumps to ensure the tourists have the ideal platform to go for victory on days four and five.

Nasser Hussain' side began the day strongly, conceding only 20 runs in the first hour's play after India had resumed on 71-2.

Rahul Dravid (7) edged Matthew Hoggard behind before Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly (5) was booed off the pitch after nicking Andy Flintoff to substitute fielder Martyn Ball. India took lunch at 126-4.

Tendulkar, vociferously supported by a 30,000-strong crowd, came into his own after the break and dominated a century stand with Laxman, whose contribution amounted to just 23 runs.

England skipper Hussain sought to contain the little master by instructing his bowlers to maintain a strict off-side line, but Tendulkar refused to be shackled.

He brought up his hundred off 183 balls with 12 fours and one six after stepping up through the gears in stunning style. Tendulkar's first 50 came in 128 balls, but his second took just 55.

Tendulkar's hundred took him up to third in the all-time table for Test tons above Steve Waugh, but behind Sunil Gavaskar and Don Bradman.

The crucial moment of the day came just before tea. Tendulkar, who averages a staggering 85 against the tourists, fell for 103 when he drove Hoggard to Nasser Hussain at mid-on.

With Virenda Sehwag at the crease, India still seemed well set but with his score on 20 Craig White got one to jag back sufficiently to win a tight lbw decision.

From then on it was all about Giles' guile and Laxman's ability to work the tail. Anil Kumble was bowled off-peg by a ball that turned significantly, while Harbhajan Singh and Javagal Srinath both failed to trouble the scorers.

India 291 and 17-0 v England 407 and 257
Second Test, Ahmedabad
Stumps Day four - England lead by 356

Alex Sharratt and Tim Hobbs reporting

India were 17-0 chasing a target of 374 at stumps on the fourth day of the second Test, after Mark Butcher's 92 anchored England to 257 all out in their second innings

The Surrey left-hander was just eight runs short of his first ton of the tour when he edged an attempted cut off Harbhajan Singh to give the home side their third quick wicket before tea.

Harbhajan finished with five for 71 as England wickets tumbled in the last session of the day as the tourists chased a declaration.

As it was, the threat posed by India's powerful batting line-up forced skipper Nasser Hussain to err on the side of caution and bat on until the innings ended with No.11 Matthew Hoggard caught behind off the bowling of Harbhajan.

Butcher's dogged 92, off 202 balls and compiled over 254 painstaking minutes, that was far from his fluent, stroke-making best, but had held his side together throughout their second innings.

Ironically, he had shut up shop with the tea break looming having seen Mark Ramprakash (19) and Andy Flintoff (4) both succumbing to the spin twins of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.

And it could have been worse had umpire Robinson not missed a clear inside edge onto the pad from Craig White - who has yet to score after hitting his maiden Test ton in the first innings - as the Indians ended the session on a high.

They had clawed their way back into proceedings having seen England make slow but steady process in the morning session.

But skipper Hussain added just 10 more runs to his lunchtime score of 40, succumbing for a half-century as Virender Sewag pocketed a catch off Harbhajan. The England skipper had already edged Javahal Srinath twice but survived as both nicks fell short of the wicket-keeeper.

It bought Ramprakash to the wicket and he and Butcher steadied the ship before the former fell for 19 as England's hopes of giving themselves a full day to bowl out their hosts and secure victory, shortened by the ball.

Flintoff's batting has belied the term all-rounder all tour, and his wretched run with the willow continued as he attempted to cut one that went straight on, slashing the ball onto his stumps.

The choice of shot was questionable given the impending interval and just two balls before the end of the session, Butcher suffered a similar fate, edging a cut to VVS Laxman in the gully as Harbhajan claimed his third wicket of the afternoon session.

England wickets tumbled after tea as they attempted to up the pace as James Foster, Ashley Giles, Richard Dawson and Matthew Hoggard all succumbed attempting big hits, to leave Vaughan unbeaten on 31.

That left India a tense seven overs to survive in the gathering gloom, but despite some enthusiastic appeals from spinner Ashley Giles, the openers took the total to 17-0.

India 291 and 198-3 drew with England 407 and 257
Second Test, Ahmedabad
Day five 



Skipper Nasser Hussain put England's second Test improvement down to good old fashioned hard work.

The tourists were unable to work their way through the Indian card on the final day, but after the resounding 10-wicket loss in Mohali, Hussain was delighted to have turned things around in Ahmedabad.

He told Sky Sports: "From how we played in Mohali to here we were a different side. The effort over all five days was exceptional.

"We have got a lot of belief in our team and we have just worked hard - that is the answer to most things. To bowl out Indian side on that wicket for 290 in the first innings was an exceptional effort."

Hussain was also quick to include rookies James Foster and Richard Dawson in the roll of honour, as well as highlighting the importance of Ahsley Giles in a country where spin traditionally dominates spin.

Giles, who missed the first Test through injury, bagged 5-67 in the first innings, while Foster hit a welcome 40 first time round and Dawson took the only two wickets to fall on the final day.

Hussain said: "For Foster and Dawson, in their second games, to come back with their heads head high was impressive.

"Ashley is a very welcome member of the team. He has put in a lot of effort in the gym so to come back and get five-for is a great effort."

Craig White's maiden Test century saw him scoop the man of the match award and the Yorkshire all-rounder echoed his captain's thoughts.

White has been unable to make in impact with the ball so far on the tour, but having fallen short of the magical three figures last year in Pakistan, was delighted with his first innings knock of 121.

He said: "It was great team effort over five days. I had a 93 in Pakistan and so to get my first test 100 was a great feeling.

"I felt we just had to bat and get as many runs as we could and be positive. You had to be patient and once you were in it got a little bit easier."

India captain Sourav Ganguly admitted that England had looked the likelier winners in a game that leaves the series balanced at 1-0 in the home side's favour going into the third and final Test in Bangalore.

But Ganguly was also pleased with his bowlers' displays after seeing Anil Kumble end the match with a 10-wicket haul to his name and Harbajhan Singh bag 5-71 in England's second innings.

Ganguly said: "England played pretty well in this Test match. It was a flat deck, but I thought the spinners worked pretty well.

"We did well today to still be up 1-0 going to Bangalore. We were under pressure because it was not an easy wicket for the new batsmen."

India 291 and 198-3 drew with England 407 and 257
Second Test, Ahmedabad
Day five 

Alex Sharratt reporting

England will travel to Bangalore